Pipe lining apparatus



Aug. 14, 1956 A. J. PERKINS PIPE LINING APPARATUS 4 Shasta-Sheet 1 FiledApril 19, 1955 Qw w 8" 14, 1956 A. J. PERKINS PIPE LINING APPARATUS 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 19, 1955 S Mr f @algfi znm i ,mmm ATTORNEYSXXX g- 1956 A. J. PERKINS PIPE LINING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledApril 19, 1955 IN VEN TOR. AZfIQJJMZ/b;

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JTTORNEYS'.

PIPE LlNlNG APPARATUS Alfred J. Perkins, Warsaw, N. Y., assignor toPerkins Pipe Linings, Inc, Grand Island, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Application April 19, 1955, Serial No. 502,441

17 Claims. (Cl. 25--38) This invention relates generally to apparatusfor applying a protective coating of mortar or like material to theinner walls of pipe lines, conduits and the like, and more particularlyto apparatus for providing such a lining to pipes of relatively smalldiameter.

One type of apparatus for lining pipes available heretofore includes acoating material applying machine which is propelled through the pipewhile progressively applying coating material to the interior surface ofthe pipe by centrifugal distributor means, the material being suppliedfrom a source of material above ground through a hose drawn ahead of themachine. Apparatus of this type is described in U. S. Patents No.2,108,319; 2,262,647 and others. A characteristic common to machines ofthis type has been a powered central rotating system extendinglongitudinally within the machine including screw-conveyor means forpropelling the mortar or other coating material from a supply carried ina hopper or the like on the machine to the distributor head means, thesupply at the machine being replenished periodically as needed throughthe hose from the above ground source. At the distributor head thematerial has been extruded through radially directed ports by blades ofthe screw-conveyor system Within the ported means wiping across theports to force the coating material radially therethrough at a ratedetermined by the screw-conveyor speed while at the same time preventingaccumulation of coating material on the annular surfaces between theports by the direct wiping action thereacross.

While this type of machine has proven highly successful in use, theaforedescribed organization thereof results in a machine of considerablecross-sectional size, and accordingly the machines have been limited inuse to the coating of pipes of fairly large interior diameter.

In accordance with the present invention means are provided whereby thecoating material flow rate to the distributor head is regulated byoperation of coating material supply means external to the pipe beinglined, and whereby that flow is utilized to operate self-cleaningdispensing port means, so that the intermediate supply hopper within thepipe being lined and the powered rotating screw conveyor system Withinthe pipe lining machine are eliminated. This permits construction of amachine of much smaller cross-sectional dimensions for operation inpipes of smaller diameter than heretofore possible. According to oneform of the invention, the axial rotating system within the liningmachine is eliminated entirely, and a non-rotating trowel element ofnovel construction is provided whereby final smoothing of the appliedlining may be effected without the necessity of a rotary power take-E.According to another form of the invention, trowel means are providedcomprising a rotary type trowel powered by the how of coating materialwithin the machine. In either event, it will be seen that the size ofthe motor means required on the machine are reduced. For furtherreducing the over-all dimensions of the machine, the motor means andpower output transmission means are preferably of hollow centerconstruction mounted annularly States Patent 0 2,758,352 Patented Aug.14, l56

about the lining material supply conduit through the machine. This alsopermits disposition of the conduit in the machine in a compact mannerwith the flow therethrough being essentially in a straight line forcooperation with the remote lining material feed source exterior of theconduit to be lined.

Accordingly a major object of the present invention is to provideimproved pipe lining apparatus enabling the lining of conduits of smallcross-sectional size.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved trowel meanswhich is particularly adapted to use in the apparatus as aforesaid.

' Another object of the invention is to provide an improved distributordevice enabling the dispensing of pipe liningmaterial through the portsof a device of the type described by the force of the lining materialflow as supplied from a source external to the pipe being lined, in aself-cleaning distributor port means operable entirely by the force ofthat flow.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved pipe liningmaterial delivering means whereby application of a coat of material ofpredetermined thickness is facilitated while permitting disposition ofthe coating material feed pumping means at variably remote distancesfrom the point of application of the material to a pipe. being lined.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means providingsynchronization of movements of a selfpropelled lining machine andlining material supply conduit means therefor, together with a motiondisparity take up which provides undisturbed continuity of liningmaterial flow therebetween, both for facilitating employment of a remotematerial feed source as aforesaid.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved pipe liningapparatus as aforesaid which is compact cross-sectionally and yet isfully reliable in operation.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the followingdescription and claims and from the drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary general view, partly in section, showing pipelining apparatus in accordance with the invention in use;

Fig. 2 is a schematic wiring diagram of the power and control circuitsof the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section view of a portion of theapparatus of Fig. 1 in use in a pipe as in that figure;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a second portion of theapparatus of Fig. 1 constituting a continuation of the showing of Fig.3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken about on line V-V ofFig. 3 showing the arrangement of the distributor head parts of one formof the apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a perspective showing of the flow directing bafiie' shown inFigs. 3 and 5, with two of the lining material dispensing port-formingbars of the distributor head construction shown in phantom lines;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken about on line VII-VIIof Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken about on line VIIIVIIIof Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken about on line IX- IX of Fig. 4;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form of the trowel ofthe invention.

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view, similar to a corresponding portion ofFig. 3, showing a lining material distributor mechanism of the inventionembodying a modified form of the lining material flow operateddispensing port means; and

Fig. 11a is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing modified trowelmeans for employment with the apparatus of Fig. 11.

Referring more particularly to Fig. l, a preferred embodiment of thepipe lining apparatus of the invention is shown in use in the applyingof a lining 20 to a pipe 22 in place below the ground level 24, theapparatus including a trowel element 26 drawn through a Coupling such asa draw bar 28 by a pipe lining machine 30 in trailing relation thereto.The pipe lining machine 30 comprises a lining material distributorsection or portion 32 having a distributor head 34, and a machinepropulsion section or portion 36 by which the machine is propelledthrough the pipe 22. Pipe lining or coating material is supplied to themachine 30 through a flexible conduit or hose 38 from a remote source 40preferably exterior of the pipe being lined access to the pipe 22 forthis purpose being had through a manhole 41 or the like,

As shown the source 40 includes a lining material supply tank or hopper42 and a pump 44 driven by an electric motor 46. Where the coatingmaterial is a viscous or semi-solid substance, such as mortar, the pump44 is preferably of a screw-conveyor type as illustrated.

The lining machine 30 is self-propelled at an accurately determinedspeed for depositing a lining of a given thickness as will be more fullyexplained hereinafter, and to prevent disturbance of the travel of themachine 30 the hose 38 is drawn ahead of the machine 30 by separate butcoordinated propulsion means. T this end a winch device 50 is providedhaving a reel 52 driven by an electric motor 54 through suitable gearing56 for windlassing a draw cable 56 taking over a pulley 58 supported bythe winch device 50 through an arm 60. The cable 56 is detachablyconnected to the hose 38 at one or more points, such as at a coupling 62at the outlet end of the hose and at spaced points (not shown) along theportion of the hose within the pipe 22, for drawing the hose through thepipe 22 ahead of the coating machine by operation of the winch.Preferably the hose 38 may be broken into sections at intermediatecouplings, one of which is shown at 64, so that as hose accumulatesabove ground with progression of the machine 30 through the pipe 22,successive sections of hose adjacent the pump 44 may be removed at acoupling 66 on the pump discharge outlet. An electric cable 70 isprovided for supplying power to electric motor means of the machine 30below ground as well as for carrying control circuits for the motors 46and 54 above ground as will be more fully described. This electric cable70 may take over a companion sheave of the pulley means 58 and over asecond pulley means 72 carried by the winch supported arm 60 to a reel74 having suitable operator means such as a manual crank 76 and suitableelectrical rotary contact means indicated generally at 78 so that thecable 70 may be reeled in progressively as slack occurs therein withprogressive operative movement of the machine 30.

The parts of the pipe lining apparatus of Fig. 1 located within the pipe22 being lined are shown in greater detail in Figs. 3 and 4, Fig. 3showing the trowel and distributor sections of the apparatus while Fig.4 shows the machine propulsion and coating material hose connectionportions of the device.

It will be seen that a dominant feature of the machine 30 is acontinuous, substantially straight, coating material feed conduit orpipe 80 extending longitudinally through the machine and substantiallycoaxially with the pipe 22 being lined from the hose coupling 62 intothe distributor head 34, and about which the major rotary elements ofthe machine are arranged annularly.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 4, the propulsion axled, quadruplewheel arrangement shown, for better negotiation of irregularities in theinner wall of the pipe 22 such as may be occasioned by a pipe joint orthe like. Alternatively each wheel means could be of a tri-cycle orside-to-side longitudinally staggered wheel arrange ment, tosubstantially the same effect.

The propulsion apparatus frame 82 supports the coating material feedpipe by means of mount means including yoke brackets 102, 104 whichreceive and cradle double flanged mount brackets 106, 108 mounted on thepipe 80 as shown. Preferably the yoke and mount brackets 102, 104 and106, 108 are shaped to interlock for fixing the pipe 80 againstrotation. The mount means includes also a cradle shaped roller device110 journaled by a bracket mount 112 on the frame 82, the roller 110giving vertical and lateral support to the inlet end of the feed pipe 80while permitting longitudinal movement thereof as will be described morefully hereinafter.

Motor means are provided to supply tractive effort to the axles 84,86,88, 90 and the wheels mounted thereby, and to this end a hollow shaftelectric motor is mounted on the pipe 80 in a compact annularly arrangeddrive structure thereon. This motor and its transmission ing a hollowdriving sun gear 136 formed on the output shaft portion 132 of the motor120 and driving planet gears 138, 138 in a ring gear 149 mounted in thehousing 122, the planet gears 138 being journaled by a rotatable hollowcenter spider 142 carrying a hollow center bevel ring gear formation144. The reduction gearing shown is for example only and any suitablehollow center planetary or other reduction gearing may be employed,whether of one or more stages.

In the schematic arrangement shown, the bevel ring gear 144 drives abevel pinion 146 which in turn drives a worm 148 cooperating with a wormwheel 150 to drive the output shaft 152 of the gearing. The shaft 152extends through the far side of the housing 122 as seen in Fig. 4 andmounts a double sprocket 154 (Fig. 9) exteriorly thereof at a conformingindentation 155 in the housing Wall. Chain or other suitable driveelements 156, 157 interconnect the sprocket 154 with driving sprockets158, 160 on axles 84, 90 of the tractor wheels for driving the same.Preferably the companion axles 86, 88 of each multiple wheel unit aredriven also, as by chain connections 162, 164 taking about sprockets onthe driven axles 84, 90 as shown at 162 (Fig. 9) and sprockets 166, 168on the axles 86, 88 respectively.

As will be apparent from the description of the dispensing head 34hereinafter, the rate at which coating 7 material is distributed to thepipe 22 is dependent upon the rateat which it flows through the materialfeed pipe 80, and therefore in order to provide a pipe coating ofpredetermined thickness it is necessary to coordinate the rate of flowthrough the feed pipe 80 and the speed of travel of the machine 30through the pipe. This rate of feed flow in the pipe 80 is affected bythe fric tional resistance within the supply hose 38 and the pressuresupplied by the pump 44 and since the length of the hose 38 and itsconfiguration as it is handled above ground continually vary as sectionsof the hose 38 are removed with progress of the machine 30 through thepipe 22, the rate of flow at the feed pipe tends to varycorrespondingly. Accordingly, means are provided to supervise andrestore the required relationship of feed flow and coating machinespeed.

To this end, flow rate sensitive means are provided which in this casesenses the flow rate primarily in terms of the pressure at the feed pipe80 resulting in the flow from the dispensing head 34. This pressuresensing device comprises a flexible wall section 170 interposed in thefeed pipe 80, in the form of a tube of rubberized fabric or othersuitable flexible material interposed between flanged connections 172,174 in the feed pipe line 80. Mounted by a shell portion 176 about theflexible section 170 between the flanged connections 172, 174, areresilient constricting means biasing the tube section 170 toward atransversely flattened position as shown in Figs. 4 and 8 against thepressure of the coating material flowing therethrough. In theconstruction shown this biasing means comprises cooperating rollermembers 180, 182 journaled by corresponding axles 184, 186 carried byarms or links 188, 190 and 192, 194 pivoted on the shell 176 formovement toward and away from each other, the movement of the rollerstoward each other being under the urge of tension springs 196, 198mounted between extensions of the roller axles 184, 186 as shown, whilethe movement away from each other is under the forces of the static anddynamic pressure within the tube section 170. For sensing the positionof the rollers 180, 182, one of the links 188 is provided with anextension 200 arranged to drive the movable part 202 of a transducer 2Mpivotally mounted as at 206 on the casing 176, the sensing means andthus the thickness of the coating applied being adjustable as by aturnbuckle 202:: in the transducer movable operator member 202.

The transducer 294 is connected in the electrical circuitry of theapparatus to readjust the relationship be tween the coating materialflow rate and the travel rate of the coating machine to the desiredpredetermined relationship for maintaining the desired coating thicknessapplied to the pipe 22. Accordingly the transducer 204 is connected toincrease the rate of travel of the pipe lining machine 34 or to decreasethe output of the pump 44, or both, upon the sensing of an increase ofcoating material flow rate as sensed by dialation of the flexible wallsection 17 i and vice-versa.

Referring to Fig. 2 the various motors of the apparatus are shown forsimplicity of illustration as shunt field D. C. motors although it willbe understood that any suitable types of motors may be used togetherwith any suitable circuitry including appropriate control devices ofknown type performing speed control functions as described above. In thecircuit arrangement shown, D. C. power for operation of the apparatus issupplied to terminals 210, 212 from which power is supplied under thecontrol of a master switch 214 to the pump motor 46, the winch motor 54,the propulsion motor 120 and a motor 216 powering the rotary parts ofthe distributor head 34 as will be described hereinafter. If desired theseveral motors may be provided with individual switches 218, 229, 222,224 as shown. In the illustrated arrangement the transducer 204comprises a pair of rheostats 226, 228 ganged for opposite variation invalue under the control of the mechanical input member 202 of thetransducer as shown, the respective rheostats 226, 228 being connectedin the shunt field circuits 230, 232 of the pump motor 2-6 and thetractor motor 120 so as to decrease the speed of the pump motor 46 andincrease the speed of the tractor motor 21 upon the sensing of anincrease of flow through the feed pipe 80, and viceversa.

Where, as in the illustrated form of the apparatus of the invention, thecoating material feed rate-coating machine travel rate adjustmentcomprises variation of the machine travel rate it is necessary or atleast highly desirable to provide means correspondingly adjusting therate at which the coating material supply hose 38 is drawn ahead of themachine. For this reason and in any case to provide synchronization ofthe movement of the hose 38 with the movement of the machine 30 forpreventing disturbance of the speed of travel of the machine by the hose38, motion disparity take-up means are provided in the feed conduitadjacent to the coupling 62 by which the same is connected to the hose38. This motion disparity take-up device 233 comprises a telescopingsection of the conduit 80 having interfltting portions 234, 236,internal surface continuity through which is provided by a rubber orother elastic liner 23 8 which is stretched between flanged connections239, 240 at the opposite ends of the telescoping section to provide asmooth interior surface thereto at all times.

To prevent binding of the liner 238 on the interior walls of thetelescoping conduit section under pressure, it is preferred that theliner 238 be relatively inelastic laterally, while having the describedelasticity longitudinally. This may be provided by a spiral wire or thelike embedded in the liner 238; the outer surfaces of this wire mayproject from the outer surface of the liner-sleeve to provide a metal tometal sliding bearing contact with the conduit wail, or the reinforcingelement of the liner may be a separate part embracing the liner tube.Preferably the interior diameter provided by the telescoping sections234, 236 is larger than that of the adjacent portions of a conduit 84)by the thickness of the elastic liner 238 so that smooth interior jointswith the adjacent pipe surfaces are provided at the opposite ends of theliner. Biasing means are provided to urge the telescoping section to itsfully retracted position; the longitudinal tension of the elastic sleeve238 serves this purpose and if desired the biasing effect of the sleevemay *be augmented by tension springs 242 interconnecting the twointerfitting portions 234, 236 of the telescoping section as shown. Forsynchronizing the speed of travel of the hose 3% with that of themachine 36 the longitudinally extensible takeup unit 233 functions as arelative speed sensing device, and to this end a transducer 244 ismounted as by a pivotal bracket 246 on one of the telescoping sections236, the transducer including a mechanical input member 248 connected tothe other of the telescoping sections 234 as by a pivotal connection250. In the electric circuit example shown in Fig. 2 this transducer 244is in the form of a rheostat connected in the shunt field circuit 252 ofthe winch motor 54 so that when the telescoping unit 233 is extended therheostat 244 is changed in its setting to decrease the speed of thewinch motor 54 and vice-versa. Accordingly the speed of take-up of thehose 3% is adjusted to match at all times the speed of travel of thecoatin" machine 39, despite changes in the speed of the coating machine39 as may be effected by operation of the propulsion motor speed control228 or any other cause.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the distributor section or portion 32 of thecoating machine comprises the distributor head motor 216 having a statorportion or frame 269 which supports the conduit 8t? by a flange portion262 and a hollow shaft rotor 264 supported between the stator 2%? andthe feed conduit 80 by hearing means 266 and 268, 270, thereby givingfurther support to the conduit 8d. The motor frame or stator 26% thusconstitutes the frame of the distributor portion 32 of the machine andis supported at its trailing end by a pair of Wheels 272 journaled by asuitable axle mount 274 mounted by the motor stator or frame 260.Although a single axle, two wheel arrangement is shown it will beunderstood that a double axle, a quadruple, tri-cycle or otherwiselongitudinally spaced wheel arrangement may be employed as in the caseof the propulsion section wheels if desired.

It will be understood that the distributor and propulsion apparatus ofthe machine 30 could be mounted by single frame and carriage meanshaving fore and aft wheel means of the type described and optionallyemploying a single electric motor arranged as dual motor means forpowering both the distributor head rotor, as hereinafter described, andfor driving the machine propelling wheel means, as hereinabovedescribed. However in the illustrated form of the machine 30, thedistributor and propulsion apparatus sections or facilities 32, 36 areembodied for convenience in flexibly detachably connected,interdependent structural units with physically separate motor means216, 120. in this con struction, the forward end of the distributorportion 32 is supported by a tongue or draw bar 23!) mounted by thestator flange 262 and having a detachable ball and socket connection 282to the frame 82 of the machine propulsion portion 36 as shown in Fig, .4This bail and socket joint permits at least a small amount of verticalas well as horizontal angular movement of the two portions 32, 36 of themachine relative to each other. Similarly the portoins of the feedconduit 80 mounted by the respective propulsion and distributor portionsof the machine are detachable from each other by a quick disconnectjoint 284 such as may be provided by a pair of mating flanges 286, 288on the respective sections of the conduit 80, which flanges are fastenedtogether by cam type removable clamps 230, 292. For impartingflexibility to the conduit 80 between the two portions of the machine arubber or other suitably flexible conduit section 294 is interposed inthe conduit 80 at the longitudinal position of the ball and socket drawbar connection 282. As shown this conduit section 294 is stepped orfeathered at its opposite ends to provide a smooth interior surface atits joints with the adjacent portions of the conduit 80, the overlappingportions of the flexible conduit section 294 being held in place by ringclamps 2%, 298.

Referring again to Fig. 3 the rotor of the distributor head motor 216includes a hollow output shaft portion 309 which mounts the revolvableportion or rotor 302 of the distributor head 34, as by screws 394, 306.

As shown in Figs, 3 and 5 the distributor head rotor comprises aplurality of radial distributor blades or vanes 3%, 308 mounted by andbetween annular end plates 310, 312. This structure is shown somewhatdiagrammatically herein, and the actual details of construction may heas shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,262,647, and may include replaceable wearplate portions 314 as shown in that patent. Further as shown in thatpatent, the discharge end of the feed conduit 30 is provided with anannular row of discharge ports 316 disposed for registration with thevanes 3528 of the distributor head rotor, these ports 316 being boundedby bar members 318 constituting extensions of the wall of the feedconduit 81} at its discharge end.

However in the case of the present invention, means are provided todirect the flow of coating material from the conduit 8%) out through theports 316 solely under the pressure of the material in the conduit 80 assupplied by the remote pump 44. To this end the port defining bars ofFig. 3 (313) are formed with angularly related side portions 32%providing a relatively sharp leading edge 322 to each of the bars at theinner or upstream side of the bars relative to the flow of coatingmaterial therearound. For cooperating with the aforesaid portconstruction, the end wall 324 of the feed conduit 89 is provided withor shaped to form a baffie device or surface 326 adapted to direct theflowing coating material radially through the ports. In the illustratedconstruction the batfle surface 326 is provided by the forward surfaceof the end wall 324, this surface being conical with an apex 323 in theorder of 90 extending into the ported discharge portion 330 of the feedpipe 80. Preferably the outer or base portion 332 of the conical surfaceextends to the outer diameter of the discharge portion 330, and thesurfaces at the joining lines of the baflie surface and the bar sidesurfaces 329 are rounded or filleted as shown at 334 in Fig. 6. Toprovide this configuration the ends of the port forming bars 318 aretapered in conformity with the baffle surface 326 to mate smoothlytherewith and the end wall member 324 is mounted in the end of theconduit 80 by brazed, welded or other suitable connection to the ends ofthe bars 316 at this tapered joint, with the brazed or weld metalproviding the smooth fillets 334. Accordingly the coating material isdirected in a smoothly flowing pattern by the battle surface 326radially out through the ports 316 without opportunity to lodge andaccumulate in the discharge or dispensing assembly, the coating materialdirecting surfaces of the ported dispenser construction beingstreamlined with respect to the flow for functioning in a self-cleaningmanner by operation of that flow as induced by the remote pump 44.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the coating material willbe fed from the feed conduit out through the metering ports 316whereupon it will be picked up and thrown centrifugally as shown at 336by the vanes 398 of the dispensing head rotor to form a coating 333 onthe interior of the pipe 22 being lined. For greater clarity ofillustration, the coating material within the feed pipe 80 and thedistributor head 34 has not been shown.

While the coating or lining 338 so applied to the interior surface ofthe pipe 22 is quite smooth, it is sometimes desired to trowel thesurface thereof lightly for further smoothing the surface. For thisreason, a trowel 26 is provided as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of thedrawing. In the construction shown, the trowel comprises an annularlysymmetrical, forwardly dished generally disc shaped memher 349 of rubberor other resilient material having a forwardly. disposed hub portion 342and an annularly continuous trailing edge portion 344. The trowel isprovided at its hub portion with attachment means such as the draw bar28 for drawing the trowel through the pipe 22 in trailing relation tothe pipe coating machine 36, as by attachment of the bar 28 to a clevis348 attached to the end wall member 324 of the conduit 80. As shown thebar 28 may be attached to the trowel hub 342 by upset flanges 358', 352on a stud portion 354 of the bar 28. Means are provided to bias or urgethe trailing annular portion 344 of the trowel into bearing relationwith the surface of the coating 26, this biasing means being preferablyadjustable to vary the troweling pressure. For this purpose the stud 354is extended rearwardly beyond the hub 342 of the trowel and mounts acircular pressure plate 356 bearing against the resilient walls 340between the hub 342 and the trailing portions 344 for cooperation withthe resilient character of the wall 341) to urge the trailing portion344 outwardly. To provide the preferred troweling pressure adjustment,the position of the pressure plate longitudinally of the trowel may bevaried by tightening or loosening a not 358 by which the plate 356 isfastened on the stud 354. Preferably the lining contacting or trowelingouter surface of the portion 344 of the trowel wall terminates in asubstantially cylindrical extended troweling portion as shown at 360.

As shown in Fig. 10 pneumatic means may be utilized in lieu of thepressure plate 356 to resiliently bias the lining hearing or trowelingsurfaces of the trowel element. In the construction shown in thatfigure, the trowel 26' comprises an annularly symmetrical body 340 ofrubber or other resilient material having a forwardly extending centralhub portion 34:2 and a rearwardly extending annularly continuoustrailing edge portion 344. As in the trowel of Figs. 1 and 3 the hubportion 342' mounts a draw 28' or other attachment means for connectionof the trowel to a pipe coating machine in trailing relation thereto.

Within the body of the trowel, a pneumatic pressure chamber 356' isdisposed in position to provide air pressure bearing outwardly againstthe resilient wall 340' for biasing the trailing portion 3 54 thereofinto bearing relation with the coating 26" in the pipe 22' being lined.Conveniently this pressure chamber 356' is in the form of a hollowrubber ball seated in a generally spherically shaped socketconfiguration 360 provided by the interior surface of the wall 340' andinflatable through a valve 358 to a pressure providing the desiredtroweling pressure. As in the trowel 26, the lining contacting ortroweling outer surface portion 344' of the trowel wall preferablyterminates in a subsiantially cylindrical portion 360'.

In the case of either of the trowel means of Figs. 1 and 3, or 10,respectively, it is preferred to provide carriage means supporting thetrowel in addition to such support as may be provided by the trowelingsurface 360 or 360'. This carriage means desirably carries the entireWeight of the trowel element, so as to permit application of an evenlydistributed troweling pressure thereby about its annular surface. Tothis end, a wheeled trowel carriage is provided comprising a pair orangularly related leg portions 362 or 362 of a bracket structure clampedto the draw bar 28 or 28 as by a clamp screw 364 or 364' and rotatablymounting a pair of wheels 356 or 366'. As best shown in Fig. 3, thewheels are provided with thin, tapered knife edges cutting through theapplied coating 338 and running on the inner wall of the pipe 22 forsupporting the trowel therefrom. These knife edges make thin cuts in thesoft mortar, one of which is shown greatly exaggerated at 368 in Fig. 3as made by the trowel carriage wheel in the background of that figure,these cuts being so thin as to nearly or fully reclose and in any eventbeing eliminated by the subsequently passing trowel.

In Fig. 11, a modification of the coating material flow actuated porteddispensing means of the invention is illustrated. In this embodiment ofthat facility, a coating material driven turbine element is providedwhich is preferably in the form of a screw device 379 having spiralblade means 372 reacting to turn the screw upon flow of coating materialtherepast within the feed conduit 8%. One end of the screw or turbineshaft 374 is supported by a loosely fitting sleeve bearing 376 supportedin the conduit by a thin web 378 therein, while the other end of theshaft is journaled at 380 in the end wall 324'.

In registry with the dispensing ports 316 of the conduit' 80' outletportion, the turbine shaft 374 is enlarged to provide a flaring orconical baflle part 326 forming in effect the interior end wall of theconduit 80' and mounting a plurality of blades 382 extending intocontiguity with the inner surface of the ported discharge portion of theconduit 80 so as to wipe that surface at and between the ports 316' asthe shaft 374 is revolved. These blades keep the material within theported discharge device agitated and prevent accumulation of mortar onthe interior wall surfaces betweenthe ports. Preferably the dispenserblades 382 are set at an angle less than the pitch of the turbine blades372 so as to aid in the conduction of the coating material outwardlyalong the flared surface of the conical baflle part 326' and out throughthe ports 316'.

In all other respects the apparatus of Fig. 11 is identical to thecorresponding parts of that shown in Fig. 3, except that the V formationof the dispenser ports would ordinarily be omitted since the scraper oragitator blades 382 serve the same function. So also the parts may beproportioned where desired to rely on scraping or agitating action ofthe blades 382 to any desired degree elsewhere in the discharge device,as for example at an end wall thereof transverse to the axis of theconduit 80'. In all other respects the operation of the apparatus as awhole is unchanged. Thus the coating material extruded through the ports316' is picked up and thrown centrifugally by the blades or vanes 308'of the rotor 302' of the distributor head 34' as in the previouslydescribed operation of the apparatus, and a trowel of the type of Fig. 3or 10 may be employed as indicated by the trowel draw bar 28" shown.

It will be seen that the turbine 372 provides a source of rotary powerderived through the coating material flow from the external pump, and ifdesired this rotary power may be utilized to drive a rotary type trowel.Accordingly, a further modification is shown in Fig. 11a

wherein the shaft 374' of a turbine or screw device; of the kind shownat 370 in Fig. 11 is extended through the end wall 324 of the porteddispenser device and is coupled at 382 to the operating and mount shaft384 of any suitable rotary type trowel 386. The trowel shown is forexample only and comprises transversely extending arms 388 mountingtroweling elements 390 which trace spiral overlapping paths on thesurface of the pipe lining as the mount shaft 384 is rotated iwthaccompanying movement of the machine ahead of the trowel during the pipelining operation previously described.

In summary, it will be seen that the mortar flow actuated, self-cleaningported discharge or dispenser means of the distributor head 34 or 34' ofthe apparatus, the straight line disposition of the feed conduit 80 or80' the provision of the flow rate-machine travel speed coordinatingmeans 170, 228 together with the axial coating machine-supply hosemotion disparity take up and speed coordinating means 233, and/or theprovision of continuous material flow regulation as by the variation ordegree measuring flow rate sensing device E70, 226 together with avariable pressure supply 44, 46, permit the employment of dispensingpressure means 44 exterior of the pipe 22 being lined, therebyeliminating need for pumps and the like in the pipe. Also it will beunderstood that the annular disposition of the motor means 120, 216 ofthe machine on and about the feed pipe together with the provision ofeither a non-rotating trowel 26 or 26 or a rotating trowel 386 poweredby means 44 external of the pipe being lined further minimize thecross-sectional size of the machine thereby enabling its employment inpipes of smaller sizes and heretofore lineable with machines of thischaracter.

While only one general form of the pipe lining apparatus of theinvention has been shown and described in detail, it will be understoodthat the invention may be otherwise embodied Within the spirit of theinvention andthe scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for lining pipe lines, a self-pro pelled pipe liningmachine adapted to move through the pipe for applying coating materialto the same, a pressure source of coating material separate from saidmachine and adaptedto be located exterior of the pipe being lined, andself-propelled supply conduit means interconnecting said source and saidmachine, said machine compris ing a coating material distributor headand an essentially straight feed conduit interconnecting said supplyconduit with said head for supplying coating material thereto entirelyunder the pressure of said source, said distributor head comprising afeed discharge part at the discharge end of said feed conduit, saiddischarge part comprising annularly arranged radially directed port.

means and generally conical baffle means directing flow from said feedconduit therethrough, said port means comprising a plurality of portshaving relatively angularly related adjacent walls merging to present astreamlined configuration in the direction of the discharge flowtherethrough, and fluid flow rate sensitive means at said feed conduitconnected in control relation to at least one of said pressure sourceand the propelling means of said machine, said feed conduit comprising alongitudinally extensible motion disparity take-up means adjacent saidsupply conduit comprising speed coordinating control means connected incontrol relation to the propelling means of said supply conduit means.

2. In an apparatus for lining pipelines, a self-propelled pipe lining.machine adapted to move through the pipe for applying coating materialto the same, a pressure source of. coating material separate from saidmachine and adapted to be located exterior of the pipe'being lined,

and self-propelled supply conduit means interconnecting said source andsaid machine, said machine comprising. a-

coating material distributor head and an essentially straight feedconduit interconnecting said supply con amass duit with said head forsupplying coating material thereto entirely under the pressure of saidsource, said distributor head comprising a feed discharge partcomprising an annular wall continuous with the discharge and of saidfeed conduit and an end wall transverse thereto, said annular wall beingformed with annularly arranged radially directed port means contiguouswith said end wall, said end wall comprising baffle means providing agenerally conical baflle surface having an apex extending into saiddischarge part coaxially therewith and a base extending to the outersurface of said annular wall, said port means comprising a plurality ofslots through said annular wall, the longitudinally extending walls ofsaid slots being angularly related to merge at the inner side of saidannular wall, and fluid flow rate sensitive means at said feed conduitconnected in control relation to at least one of said pressure sourceand the propelling means of said machine, said feed conduit comprising alongitudinally extensible motion disparity take-up means comprisingspeed coordinating control means connected in control relation to thepropelling means of said supply conduit means.

3. In an apparatus for lining the inner walls of pipe lines, aself-propelled pipe lining machine adapted to move through the pipe forapplying coating material to the same, a pressure source of coatingmaterial separate from said machine and adapted to be located exteriorof the pipe being lined, and self-propelled flexible supply conduitmeans interconnecting said source and said machine, said machinecomprising a coating material distributor head and an essentiallystraight feed conduit interconnecting said flexible conduit with saidhead for supplying coating material thereto entirely under the pressureof said source, said distributor head comprising a a feed discharge partand a rotary distributor part coaxial therewith, said discharge partcomprising an annular wall continuous with the discharge end of saidfeed pipe and an end wall transverse thereto, said annular wall beingformed with annularly arranged radially directed port means contiguouswith said end wall, said end wall comprising baflle means providing agenerally conical baffle surface having an apex extending into saiddischarge part coaxially therewith and a base extending to the outersurface of said annular wall, said port means comprising a plurality ofslots through said annular wall, the longitudinally extending walls ofsaid slots being angularly related to merge at the inner side of saidannular wall, and fluid flow rate sensitive means at said feed conduitconnected in control relation to at least one of said pressure sourceand the propelling means of said machine, said feed conduit comprising alongitudinally extensible motion disparity take-up means adjacent saidflexible supply conduit comprising speed coordinating control meansconnected in control relation to the propelling means of said flexibleconduit means.

4. In a pipe lining apparatus, a pipe lining machine adapted to bepropelled through a pipe to apply a coating thereto, said machinecomprising a distributor head and a substantially straight feed conduitfor supplying coating material thereto, a pressure source of coatingmaterial separate from said machine, and supply conduit means connectingsaid source with said feed conduit, said supply conduit means beingadapted to 'be propelled in advance of said machine, said feed conduitcomprising telescoping means to take up motion disparity between saidmachine and said supply conduit means.

5. In combination with a machine adapted to apply a lining of plasticmaterial to a pipe while traveling therethrough, trowel means connectedto said machine to trail therebehind to smooth the surface of thepreviously applied lining, said trowel means comprising annular meanscomprising rubber-like resilient material arranged to provide acontinuous troweling surface about the outer periphery of said annularmeans, said trowel means comprising bias means adapted to urge saidtroweling surface r ,12 uniformly outwardly radially of said annularmeans against the interior pipe-lining surface to be troweled, therubber-like resilience of said material providing for change incircumferential size of saidannular means in responseto said bias meansand the opposing surface of said lining without discontinuity in saidtroweling surface.

6. In combination with a machine adapted to apply a lining of plasticmaterial to a pipe while traveling therethrough, trowel means connectedto said machine to trail therebehind to smooth the surface of thepreviously applied lining, said trowel means comprising annular meanscomprising rubber-like resilient material arranged to provide acontinuous troweling surface about the outer periphery of said annularmeans, said trowel means comprising bias means adapted to urge saidtroweling surface uniformly outwardly radially of said annular meansagainst the interior pipe lining surface to be troweled, the rubber-likeresilience of said material providing for change in circumferential sizeof said annular means in response to said bias means and the opposingsurface of said lining being troweled, and carriage means connected tosupport said annular means for relieving said troweling surface ofweight of said trowel means and comprising wheel means located to trackon the lower half only of the pipe in advance of said troweling surface,said wheel means having knife-like tracking edges adapted to cut throughthe applied lining material to bear directly on the pipe wall, wherebythe disturbance of the lining by said wheel means is of such minimalcharacter as to be erased by the subsequently passing troweling surface.

7. In a pipe lining apparatus, means for progressively depositing apredetermined thickness layer of the lining material on a pipe, saidmeans comprising traveling lining material depositing means including arotary material depositing head and travel speed control means, remotelining material supply pump means including pressure control means,conduit means including a variable length flexible hose connecting saidpump means with said head and arranged for supplying said head withlining material at a rate in accordance with operation of said pumpmeans, and flow rate responsive means adapted and located to sense theflow rate from said pump through said conduit means to said depositingmeans, said responsive means being connected in control relation to saidspeed control and said pressure control means.

8. In a pipe lining apparatus, means for progressively depositing apredetermined thickness layer of the lining material on a pipe, saidmeans comprising traveling lining material depositing means including arotary material depositing head, remote lining material supply pumpmeans including pressure control means, conduit means including avariable length flexible hose connecting said pump means with said headand arranged for supplying said head with lining material at a rate inaccordance with operation of said pump means, and flow rate responsivemeans adapted and located to sense the flow rate from said pump throughsaid conduit means to said depositing means, said responsive means beingconnected in control relation to said pressure control means. i

9. In an apparatus for lining pipe lines, a self-propelled pipe liningmachine adapted to travel longitudinally through the pipe to be lined,said apparatus comprising a non-rotating system arranged to extendlongitudinally of the pipe comprising a distributor head feed dischargepart on said machine and a substantially straight coating material feedconduit extending longitudinally through said machine to said dischargepart, and a non-rotating trowel connected to said machine to trailtherebehind and having a continuous resilient annular troweling surface,said trowel comprising adjustable force resilient means adapted to biassaid troweling surface against the lining applied to the pipe, saidmachine comprising a hollow shaft power system annularly embracing saidfeed conduit, said power .system comprising distributor head rotor andmachine propulsion drive means comprising an electric motor havinghollow power shaft means and a machine propulsion hollow center speedreducer transmission having hollow input shaft means connected to saidpower shaft means, said feed conduit passing through said motor and saidtransmission within said hollow shaft means of each, pump means forsupplying coating material under pressure, and adjustable length supplycoriduit means connecting said pump means to said feed conduit, saidfeed conduit comprising flow rate sensitive means connected in controlrelation to at least one of said propulsion drive means and said pumpmeans.

10. In an apparatus for lining pipe lines, a self-propelled pipe liningmachine adapted to travel longitudinally through the pipe to be lined,said machine comprising a coating material conveying system arranged toextend longitudinally of the pipe comprising a distributor head feeddischarge part on said machine and a continuous coating material feedconduit extending longitudinally through said machine to said dischargepart, said machine comprising distributor means comprising a distributorhead rotor cooperating with said discharge part, and ma chine propulsionmeans comprising motor means therefor, said motor means comprising ahollow center electric motor having a central hollow output shaft meansand a hollow center speed reducer transmission having a generallycentral hollow center input shaft means connected to said output shaft,said feed conduit being disposed to pass through said motor and saidtransmission within said hollow shaft means.

11. In an apparatus for lining pipe lines, a self-propelled pipe liningmachine adapted to travel longitudinally through the pipe to be lined,said machine comprising a coating material conveying system arranged toextend longitudinally of the pipe comprising a distributor head feeddischarge part on said machine and a continuous coating material feedconduit extending longitudinally through said machine to said dischargepart, said machine comprising distributor means comprising a distributorhead rotor cooperating with said discharge part, and machine propulsionmeans comprising motor means therefor, said motor means comprisingahollow center electric motor having a central hollow output shaft meansand a hollow center speed reducer transmission having a generallycentral hollow center input shaft means connected to said output shaft,said feed conduit being disposed to pass through said motor and saidtransmission within said hollow shaft means, said transmission havingannularly disposed output and torque reaction elements passing said feedconduit.

12. In combination with a machine adapted to apply a lining of plasticmaterial to a pipe while traveling therethrough, trowel means connectedto said machine to trail therebehind to smooth the surface of thepreviously applied lining, said trowel means comprising a body member ofrubber-like resilient material comprising a hub portion and an annulartroweling portion extending outwardly and backwardly therefrom, saidtroweling portion having a substantially cylindrical continuous outertroweling surface of a circumference variable without discontinuity byreason of the resilience of said rubberlike material, said trowel meanscomprising resilient bias means adapted to urge said troweling portionoutwardly against the lining surface to be troweled, and carriage meansconnected to said body member through said hub portion and having thinrimmed wheel means adapted to cut through soft lining material to beardirectly on the inner wall of a pipe being lined in advance of saidtroweling surface to thereby relieve said troweling surface of 14 Weightof said troweling means, said wheel means being arranged to track on thelower half of the pipe wall only.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said bias means comprisesadjustable mechanical spreader means acting on said body intermediate ofsaid hub and troweling portions to urge said troweling portion outwardlywith a force variable by adjustment of said spreader means.

14. The combination of claim 12 wherein said bias means comprises avariably inflatable pneumatic pressure chamber acting within said bodymember to urge said troweling portion outwardly.

15. In a pipe lining apparatus, a pipe lining machine adapted to travelthrough a pipe to apply a coating thereto, said machine comprising adistributor head and a generally longitudinal feed conduit for supplyingcoating material thereto, a pressure source of coating material separatefrom said machine, and supply conduit means connecting said source withsaid feed conduit, said supply conduit means being adapted to bepropelled in advance of said machine, said feed conduit comprisinglongitudinally resiliently extensible section means to take up motiondisparity between said machine and said supply conduit means.

16. In a pipe lining apparatus, means for progressively depositing apredetermined thickness layer of the lining material on a pipe, saidmeans comprising traveling lining material depositing means including arotary material depositing head and travel speed control means, remotelining material supply pump means, conduit means including a variablelength flexible hose connecting said pump means with said head andarranged for supplying said head with lining material at a rate inaccordance with operation of said pump means, and flow rate responsivemeans adapted and located to sense the flow rate from said pump throughsaid conduit means to said depositing means, said responsive means beingconnected in control relation to said speed control means.

17. In an apparatus for lining pipe lines, a pipe lining machine adaptedto travel longitudinally through the pipe to be lined, said machinecomprising a coating material conveying system arranged to extendlongitudinally of the pipe comprising a distributor head feed dischargepart on said machine and coating material feed conduit means extendinglongitudinally through said machine to said discharge part generallyeoaxially with the pipe being lined, said machine comprising distributormeans comprising a distributor head rotor cooperating with saiddischarge part, and machine propulsion means comprising motor meanstherefor, said motor means comprising a hollow center electric motorhaving a central hollow output shaft means and a hollow center speedreducer transmission having a generally central hollow center inputshaft means connected to said output shaft, said feed conduit beingdisposed to pass through said motor and said transmission within saidhollow shaft means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,668,154 Kelley May 1, 1928 1,988,329 Perkins Jan. 15, 1935 2,185,570Ridley Jan. 2, 1940 2,704,873 Kirwan et al Mar. 29, 1955 2,711,000Matheny June 21, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 685,637 Great Britain Jan. 7, 1953

